[yorkietalkjilly]

She may still be missing her former owner and is just scared to death right now, wondering what's going to happen next. I'd keep looking for her former owner as long as 90 days if it were me I think, just in case there is someone absolutely crazy with worry and pain out there missing their girl.

Here are some thoughts to consider and use or not if you think they might help her. I'd ignore her for the time being until she begins to settle in more and then reward her with a small treat and gentle pat for any open overtures she makes to you. If she is psychologically damaged by intense fear, her rehab could take up to a year or more to help her get better but it can be done!

Sitting down on the floor on her level with your side to her at about 24" distance and not making eye contact or touching her but just spending time with her - just 5 or 10 minutes to start and then slowly working up to an hour at a time - making no demands of her can help give her needed companionship and slowly begin to show her you are a kind, gentle person to be trusted. After the time is up, arise and go about your normal activities and allow her to do whatever she feels comfortable doing.

A few high-value treats placed around the house for her to sniff out might get her nose involved and draw her out of herself a bit and interest her in seeking out the treats. If she misses some, just point them out to her and see if she will go for them but if not, just move on.

After she's trusting of you and seeks you out, I'd begin to get her busy feeling some self-confidence by encouraging her to approach and touch a few strange objects you place in the middle of the floor with treats around them. Place some high-value treats among them and gently clap and praise her for going up to one of the objects and the moment she touches it with her nose or paw, serial treat her to encourage her to continue to explore and approach strange things. I'd use a clock, a phone, a large serving spoon, a book and a limb from outside to start and just see how she does. Over time, she should learn that she's safe enough to approach and sniff, touch the odd object and get your positive reinforcement and praise for every adventurous touch. This will begin to give her less fear of new things and build up her self confidence in time. Keep changing the objects you introduce her to and keep the game fun for her.

When she's got more self-confidence, I'd start her on some basic obedience training to further give her self-assurance and fill her with pride as she learns to do what you show her to and gets rewarded with pride and treats when she does. A good, fun, upbeat and very short 5 mins. of obedience training twice a day can remake a dog's attitude about himself or herself as they bond with you during the work and gain self-respect and attitude from your positive reinforcement.

Lots of exercise if she's not afraid of walking outside but if she is, try to get her out in the back to chase a ball or something several times a day to help her work out her tensions.

That's what I'd do if she were my dog for starters.